10 Injury Treatment Priorities at the Emergency Room

Although life-threatening injuries aren't the No. 1 reason patients find themselves in the emergency room, or even in the top 10, these are the patients who will receive first priority by the emergency staff.

"The obvious first-priority patients are those with multiple trauma, gunshot or stab wounds, those who've been in motor vehicle accidents, those with obvious stroke or who are having a heart attack with a specific pattern on EKG," explains Dr. Rathlev. Patients in shock or who have unstable vital signs -- extremely low blood pressure, extremely high pulse -- or who have a change in their mental status or have sudden confusion are also given first priority.